001 - 004 - Weathering the Storm

Fendor’s stomach rumbled over the sound of the rain. He messaged his belly through his tunic with both hands. His hands stretched tendons strong and tight, the knuckles large and the backs wide and heavily scarred. Elyria wondered at the size of those hands and what they engaged in to receive such damage. She looked up to find Fendor’s eyes on her. The wind blew a gust through the crack between the oilcloth on the window and its frame. Elyria shivered.

"I am a little hungry." Fendor grinned. The firelight reflected red dancing flames in his blue eyes.

The hut seemed smaller now with the heat and the light and Fendor’s pack and cloak taking up space in her small home. Elyria noticed Fendor’s sword hanging from his waist. The point almost touched the ground, its length seeming greater than most.

"Yes, I think you must be." Elyria lifted the lid to the pot hanging on its swivel hook by the fire. "I don’t have much here. I have some porridge that can be heated." She swung the arm over the flames, the cast iron pot inhaling the heat.

"That would be a start. I haven’t eaten in two days." He let out a deep sigh. "I ran out of jerky and I had to give my oat cakes to the horses."

"Remove your sword and place it in that corner." She pointed to the spot farthest from the door.

"If I can get something in me, I will go out and get some fresh meat." Fendor untied his sword belt and unwound it from his waist. He pulled up a stool, sat and placed his sword on the floor beside him. The dogs raised their heads at the clank of the metal laid near them.

"Fresh meat would be a treat. We’ll need more wood to keep the fire going to cook meat, though." She went to take his cloak from the hook. "While you are still wet, you should go out and get more." She brought his cloak to him and waited for him to rise and take it. He chuckled and shook his head, slightly. He got up, took the heavy wool garment, placed it over his head and shoulders and started to the door. One and Two rose and joined him.

"I have some dried currents I can add to the porridge, to fortify and refresh you."

"You are too good." Fendor mumbled as he left, the pups trailing after him.

Elyria tried to pick up Fendor’s sword. It weighed more than she could manage. She lifted it by the hilt and dragged it to the back corner and rested it there against the wall. She didn’t feel any more secure but at least the weapon would be harder to get. She would have put it under her oaken chest, but felt that might be too provoking.

That done, she found the pouch marked with her symbol for currents, five red circles. She opened the bag and grabbed a handful of the dried berries and tossed them in the gruel. After she hung the sack back on its peg, she scooped a cup of water from the water bucket and added that to the porridge to loosen it. She stirred the mixture and covered the pot back up. She heard Fendor at the door and opened it for him.

He had shed his cloak, as the rain had ceased its incessant downpour. He came in with a full load of wood and stacked it on the pile of the first logs he brought in. He turned from his work and saw his sword in the place she had first wanted it. Without comment, he went back out.

Gray clouds still filled the sky. The wind blew in little gusts, chasing them along their way. Fendor came back with his cape draped over his arm. He lost the thong that held his hair bound in a braid and strands whipped around his face. One and Two were not with him. They must be off running their pent up energy out of their veins.

"The storm looks to be passed us now," said Elyria. She pointed in the direction the clouds fled. "You can move on to your destination once you’ve eaten." She could hear the eagerness in her own voice. Although she was honor bound to provide for guests to the shrine, Fendor was a mere traveler passing by.

"My horses still need to rest. An hour does not suffice." He entered and closed the door. After hanging his cloak, he turned back to her. "Besides, I promised you fresh meat and I mean to deliver it. I must repay your hospitality to me and my beasts." He grinned at her again. She thought he grinned too often. It made her uneasy.

"Repayment is not necessary, Sir. My deeds were small. Duty says I offer help when the need arises. You owe nothing."

"Let us eat our porridge. It smells like the bottom portion burns." He took wooden bowls and spoons down from one of the shelves. He put the pot lid aside and ladled the porridge in the dishes. He handed one to Elyria and gestured for her to sit. "Later we can discuss indebtedness."

That sounded ominous to Elyria’s mind. She sat on the second stool and ate her meal. She determined to herself to send Fendor on his way as soon as may be. He sat on the other stool and ate from his bowl. He finished rather quickly, due no doubt to ravenous hunger. He took another portion and ate that more slowly.

As they sat in semi-companionable silence, Elyria thought she might bring up Fendor’s leaving again. She debated several tacks she might successfully use. One idea seemed to present itself as the most reasonable course of convincing him that he should go.

"Such a severe frown you display."

Elyria jumped.

"What thoughts hide behind your countenance?"

"I consider the worry your people must be feeling that you are delayed. It would be a kindness for you to relieve them of their grief." She tried to fill her words with as much sincerity and urgency as she could muster.

"There are no people waiting for me." He took her bowl from her and set it aside with his. He gazed into the flames.

"Oh, no? You must have business somewhere, although I still do not understand how you come to be in my out-of-the-way place." She looked at his profile, his large, straight nose and hairless cheeks and chin, trying to figure out the puzzle.

"You are not out of the way. You are exactly where you should be." He spoke into the fire, his voice far away.

"You confound me. What do you mean?"

He turned to face her and looked directly into her blue eyes. "You are my destination."